SCHOOL BUILDING GRANTS.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 299, 27 January 1910, Page 2

SCHOOL BUILDING GRANTS.

DEPARTMENTAL CIRCULAR. A Departmental circular received by the Taranaki Education Board sets out ftiat: "The ordinary grants for s'chool buildings are distributed out of an item which is thus described in the Vote for School Buildings Consolidated Fund: 'Grants to Education Boards for general maintenance of school buildings, alterations, rebuilding, furniture, fittings, fencing, rents, additions' and improvements of sites etc.' The amount allocated to the Taranaki Education Board is £1341. This grant is made to the Board primarily for the following purposes: (a) To provide for maintenance and repair of school buildings, furniture, and fittings, etc. (b) To meet the cost of Te-building worn-out schools, and of replacing wornout furniture, fittings, fencing, etc. (c) To provide for all new furniture and fittings required by increase of attendance at existing schools, or by the establishment of small or temporary schools not provided for a special grant. The Board after having made due provision for the requirements named above may, at its discretion, devote the whole or part of the balance of the grant to other purposes' named in the vote, but the amount expended upon additions in any year is 'not to exceed 7 (seven) per cent, of the grant for the year, and the additional floor space provided in any one school or residence during tlie year is not to exceed 400 square feet. For the replacement of schools destroyed by fire special provision is made." The attitude taken up by the Minister in reference to the new school required at Franklev road was' in line with the provisions of this circular.

At the Education Board meeting yes terday,

Mr. Morton moved, Mr. Halcombe stV'onded. and it was resolved —That this Board enters its protest against the stand taken up by the Department in requiring that the reinstating of wornout schools should be borne by education board*' out of their ordinary maintenance grant, and would point out to the Minister that this is practically impossible. and if only partly carried out must inevitably result in the ordinary work of upkeep and maintenance of the primary schools being largely neglected, to the great detriment of these schools, and which work should, in the opinion of this boa,rd. be its first and most important duty."